Winch unit



June 4, 1963 H. M. KENNEDY WINCH UNIT 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 22, 1961 INVEN TOR. HARRY M. KENNEDY BY MAI-w MILLER & RAMBO BY v aroma-Y5.

June 4, 1963 H. M. KENNEDY 3,092,370

WINCH UNIT Filed Nov. 22, 1961 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 A:

INVEN TOR. HARRY M. KENNEDY MAHON Y.MILLER 8.RAMBO BY 4, 74 M ATTORNEYS.

June 4, 1963 H. M. KENNEDY 3,092,370

WINCH UNIT Filed Nov. 22, 1961 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 -:2 //7ARRY M. KENNEDY B F -\T--- /MA NEY, MILLER & RAMBO Z9 BY%' ATTORNEYS.

June 4, 1963 M, KENN Y 3,092,370

WINCH UNIT Filed Nov. 22, 1961 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 g g INVENTOR. HARRY M. KENNEDY BY MAHONEY. MILLER & RAMBO [I] ATTORNEYS.

June 4, 1963 H. M. KENNEDY 3,092,370

WINCH UNIT Filed Nov. 22, 1961 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. *Q HARRY M. KENNEDY MAHONEY, MILLER & RA BO ATTORNEYS.

June 4, 1963 H. M. KENNEDY 3,092,370

WINCH UNIT 7 Filed Nov. 22, 1961 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INV EN TOR ATTORNEYS.

HARRY M. KENNEDY MAHONEY.M/LLER & RAMBO June 4, 1963 H. M. KENNEDY 3,092,370

WINCH UNIT Filed Nov. 22, 1961 '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR.

E5 11 HARRY M. KENNEDY MAHONEY, MILLER & RAM 0 K M ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,6?2579 WINCH UNIT Harry M. Kennedy, Bncyrus, Ghio, assignor to The Superior Equipment Company, Bucyrus, Ohio, a corporation of Ghio Fiied Nov. 22, 1961, Ser. No. 154,281 9 Claims. (Cl. 2-541S5) This invention relates to a winch unit. It has to do, more particularly, with a winch unit which is designed especially for use on a wheel or crawler tractor mounted backfiller attachment but which is capable of other uses.

The winch unit of this invention was developed for use with a backfiller attachment mounted on a basic wheel or crawler tractor. In this particular application, a crawler tractor carried a backfiller attachment extending from one side thereof which was used to return excavated dirt or spoil or other material to a ditch from which it had been removed by various ditching or earth moving tools. This type of backfiller attachment includes an an- 'gularly disposed telescopic boom which is mounted on one side of the tractor for vertical swinging movement and which has cable lines associated therewith for operating a backfiller blade or scraper board. The backfiller operation is accomplished by properly angling the boom, moving the tractor at compatible speed along the ditch, and correlating pull on the outhaul, or board-supporting line, and free spooling of the inhaul or dragline to move the board transversely relative to the ditch into engagement with the pile of excavated material or spoil bank. Once the board is properly positioned relative to the spoil bank, tension on the inhaul line, synchronized with the level-holding tension on the board support outhaul line, causes the board to pull through the spoil bank, carrying the spoil material ahead of it into the ditch, thus completing a backfilling cycle. The boom is swung vertically by a suitable cable arrangement to a desired position rel- =ative to the tractor depending upon the distance from the tractor to the spoil bank on either side of the ditch.

The winch unit of this invention controls the inhaul cable or line and the outhaul cable or line connected to the backfiller board and receives all power necessary for controlling these lines or cables, to perform the backfilling operation, from the tractor on which the backfiller attachment is mounted. The winch unit is so designed and is so located on the tractor that a single operator can be suitably located on the tractor to efficiently control both. Also, the winch unit is preferablyhydraulically controlled to minimize fatigue of the operator. Live positive independent boom control may also be provided by the winch unit of this invention, which permits adjustment of the boom up or down for varying conditions without disturbing the rhythmical backfilling operation created by operation of the inhaul and outhaul drums or spools of the winch to haul in or pay out the inhaul and outhaul lines. The winch unit is located on the tractor at a level above the tractor tracks so that the inhaul and outhaul cable lines and their fairleads are above mud, rocks, and other obstructions which might adhere to the tracks.

Since backfilling is primarily a function of the brakes and clutches of a winch unit with a constant brakeatoclutch-to-brake operation, wherein the cable control drums are continually rotating and changing in rotation from one direction to another and cable tension varies from second-to-second, constant slipping of brakes and clutches of the winch unit is a requisite for smooth, fast operation. Unavoidable heat is present due to frictional contact of metal-to-metal, frictional materialato-metal, or other materials used in the winch unit. Prior art winch units rely on air or water to cool these heat-developing and carrying members. However, the winch unit of the pres- 3,092,370 Patented June 4, 1963 ent invention relies upon revolving large driving clutch plates or discs, and similar brake discs, through an oil bath which exerts a cooling efifect directly thereon. Also, since the contact surfaces on the discs and associated shoes are flexible, friction-type oil-absorbing material, a squeezing action on the friction material causes the oil carried thereby to be squeezed through and around the frictional contact surfaces, thus maintaining the various members at a sufliciently low temperature to prevent disintegration and excessive wear of the frictional materials on the discs and shoes, or excessive heating of oil. Thus, the unit of this invention can work continuously without overheating whereas prior art units require long cooling off periods.

The winch unit of this invention controls the inhaul line and the outhaul line for the backfiller board by means of separate drums relative to which the lines wind and unwind. Both drums are mounted on a common drum shaft for rotation relative thereto and the shaft is driven continuously in one direction. The drums are independently controlled by a separate brake and clutch mechanism associated with each in an oil-tight case containing a supply of oil as a lubricating and cooling medium. Each brake and clutch mechanism comprises a brake disc and an associated clutch disc which, as indicatcd above, are large plates operating in the oil. The clutch disc surrounds the drive shaft and is mounted thereon by means of a freewheeling unit of the planetary gear type. By controlling the clutch disc to control the associated planetary gear unit, the associated drum may be driven by the drive shaft or may have a freewheeling action relative to the drive shaft. The brake disc is connected to the drum through the planetary gearing and can be controlled to exert a braking force on the drum when the drum is not actually being driven by the shaft. Control of the clutch disc and the brake disc of each drum control mechanism is provided by separately controlled hydraulic rams. Each ram ha a neutral or central position and opposed brake and clutch-engaging positions. By proper actuation and synchronization of these rams, the cable drums can be properly actuated to move the backfiller board outwardly and inwardly in a proper cycle for backfilling. Control of the angle of the boom is accomplished with a cable which is controlled by a separate drum that forms part of the winch unit.

The preferred form of the winch unit embodying this invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing a tractorniounted backfiller to which the winch unit of this invention is applied.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged perspective view showing the winch unit of this invention taken substantially in the direction of line 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged elevational view, partly broken away, of the winch unit of FIGURE 2, taken at the side toward the operators position.

FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view taken transversely through the winch unit at right angles to the axis thereof substantially along line 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken axially through one-half of the winch unit substantially along line 5-5 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 5a as view similar to FIGURE 5 but showing the other half of the winch unit.

FIGURE 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken along line 66 of FIGURE 5 showing details of one of the hydraulic actuating rams used to actuate the winch unit.

FIGURE 7 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken along line 77 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURES 8 to 11 are diagrammatic views illustrating four difierent combinations of controls for operating the winch unit.

With reference to the drawings, in FIGURE 1 there is illustrated a tractor 20 which is of the standard crawler type having the endless tracks 21 on opposite sides. This tractor carries at one side thereof a :backfiller attachment which is designated generally at 22. This attachment comprises the outwardly extending boom arm 23 which is usually of the telescoping type and which is pivoted at its lower inner end, as indicated at 2 4, to a laterally out wardly extending platform 25 carried by the tractor frame. The operator is adapted to sit in a seat 26 on the platform at this side of the tractor and to operate the various controls 27 for moving the tractor along, steering it, and for operating the backfiller attachment. The winch unit of this invention is indicated generally at 30 and is on the opposite side of the tractor. This winch unit will control the angular position of the boom 23 by means of a cablereeving system 31 and will also control-the inhaul cable line 32 and the outhaul cable line 33 which control the movements of the backfiller board 34 which is connected between the lines 32 and 33. The boom control cable 31 (FIGURE 1) passes over the operators position. The outhaul cable 33 connects to the board 34 at its top and outer side and runs upwardly and outwardly around an idler pulley or sheave 35 on the outer end of the boom 23. It runs through the boom and is provided with a fairlead (not shown) over the platform 25 adjacent the operators seat to the winch unit 30. The inhaul cable 32 is attached to the lower and inner side of the board and has a similar fairlead (not shown) running over the plat form 25 to the winch unit 30.

The cable reeving boom control system 31 is independently controlled by means of a drum 36 (FIGURE 1) mounted on top of the unit 30. This drum is independently driven and controlled by usual means, the details of which are not important to this invention. Obviously, by selectively rotating the drum 36 in opposite directions, the angle of the boom 23 can be adjusted as desired.

The winch unit, as shown best in FIGURE 2, includes a pair of parallel upright oil-tight cases or housings 41 and 42. These cases 4l'and 42 are rugged construction and are rigidly held in spaced tandem relationship relative to the tractor and are rigidly secured to the platform 25 which is firmly attached to the frame of the tractor. These cases 41 and 42 rotatably support the common drum shaft 43 which is shown best in FIGURES and 511. It will be noted that these FIGURES 5 and So each show one-half of the structure that they match at the respective lines a-b and a'b to show the complete unit.

Rotatably mounted on the shaft 43, which extends in a direction forwardly and rearwardly of the tractor, are the inhaul drum or spool 44 and the outhaul drum or spool 45 which receive the inhaul line 32 and the outhaul line 33, respectively. Each line is in the form of a cable having its inner end connected to the respective drum. These drums are disposed side-by-side between the cases 41 and '42 and are rotatable relative to each other and relative-to the cases. As will be clear hereinafter, the case 41 encloses the clutch and brake mechanism for controlling the drum 44 whereas the case 42 encloses the clutch and brake mechanism for controlling the drum 45. The drum 44 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 43 by means including the roller bearing 46-( FIGURE 5 whereas the drum 45 is rotatably mounted on theshaft 43 by means including the roller bearing 47 (FIGURE 5a), these hearings being at the outer ends of the respective drums. The adjacent inner ends of the drums 44 and 45 are carried by a common bearing structure 48 (-FIG- URE 5a) on the shaft 43. Oil seals 49 are associated with the respective roller bearings 46 and 47 to prevent passage of oil inwardly from the cases 41 and 42 along the shaft 43. The shaft 43 is supported for rotation by the roller bearings 50 in the outer Walls of the respective cases 41 and 42 and is driven continuously in one direction by means of a gear 51 which is keyed on one end thereof and which is part of a multi-speed selection gear unit 52 that is suitably driven from the tractor transmission.

The clutch and brake mechanism for controlling each of the drums 44 or 45 and contained in the respective cases 41 and 42 are identical. Therefore, a detailed description of one will be given and this description will refere to the mechanism in the case 41. The corresponding mechanism in the case 42 will be designated by the same numerals with the sufiix a.

Thus, with reference to FIGURE 5, it will be noted that adjacent the outer Wall of the case 41 a brake disc 60 is provided. This is a large disc which has a hub that fits around and is splined for axial movement to a collar 61 that is rotatably mounted by means of a ball bearing 62 on the shaft 43. The outer face of this disc adjacent its peripheral edge engages a brake shoe 63 of flat annular form which is carried by a hat ring 64 welded to the inner surface of the outer Wall of the case 41. The shoe material 63 is of suitable friction material which is oil-absorbing. Thus, the brake disc 66 can rotate about the axis of the shaft 43 but its rotation will be stopped when it is moved outwardly against the shoe 63 with sufiicient force.

Mounted on the shaft 43 axially inwardly of the brake disc 60 is a clutch disc 65. This is a large disc of the same size as the brake disc 60 and at its hub is provided with a freewheeling unit of the planetary gear type which can be actuated to cause the clutch disc to be driven in a direction opposite to that of the shaft or to permit freewheeling of the clutch disc relative to the shaft. This clutch disc 65 has its hub splined for relative axial movement to the exterior of an internal ring gear or housing 66 which encloses and meshes with a series of planetary gears or pinions 67. The pinions 67 are angularly spaced around the shaft and each is carried by a pin 63. Each pin 68 has one of its ends secured by means of a setscrew 69 in a socket in the brake disc supporting collar 61 and its other end positioned in a socket in a spider 70. This spider 70 is disposed in an internal ring gear member 71 rigidly attached to the outer face of the drum 44, the outer ends of the arms of the spider having teeth which cooperate with the internal teeth carried by the gear 71 to prevent relative rotation of the spider and gear. Thus, the pinions rotate about their own axes but will be in fixed angular positions relative to the drum 44. The internal gear 71 rotates within an oil seal 72 disposed in a central opening in an annular plate 73 which is fixed to the inner wall of the case 41.

Adjacent its peripheral edge, the plate 73 carries a fiat ring 74 which has on its inner surface a fiat clutch shoe 75 of friction material similar to the shoe 63. This shoe 75 is adapted to engage the adjacent face of the clutch disc 65 adjacent its peripheral edge when it is moved axially inwardly relative to the shaft 43. The pinions 67 mesh with and can move axially relative to an elongated sun gear 76 which is formed on the shaft 43 but which may be a separate gear keyed thereto.

With the planetary gear freewheeling unit arranged as indicated, the clutch disc 65 will, when not retarded, be rotated by the drive shaft 43 in a direction opposite to that of the shaft. This will be caused by the sun gear 76 rotating with the shaft, driw'ng each of the pinions 67 about the associated pins 68 in an opposite direction and thereby causing the gear 66 with which they mesh to revolve about the axis of the shaft in a reverse direction. This, therefore, will rotatethe clutch'disc 65' in a direction opposite to that of the rotation of the shaft 43. However, if the clutch disc 65 is moved inwardly into contact with the clutch shoe 75, so that its rotation will be retarded or stopped relative to that of the shaft, the ring gear 66 is retarded or stopped and the planetary pinions 67 will be rotated about their own axes by the sun gear 76 and caused to revolve or travel around the sun gear 76 and within the gear 66. Thus, the disc 65 will either rotate in an opposite direction relative to the shaft 43 or will be held in fixed position and the shaft can rotate therein, so that there is a relative freewheeling action. It will be apparent that the pins 68 also serve moved in opposite directions by means of a yoke 80.

This yoke 80 is disposed between the brake disc 60 and the clutch disc 65 and the lower ends of its arms are pivoted by pivot pins 79, as shown (best in FIGURE 4, to the adjacent walls of the case 41. The yoke 80 is moved about its pivot axis by means of a piston rod 81 of a doubleacting hydraulic ram unit 78 which includes the cylinder 82. As shown in FIGURES 5 and 6, the cylinder 82 is mounted on the outer wall of the case 41 with its axis normal thereto. The piston rod 81 is rigidly connected to a pin 83 which supports the bars 84 for vertical swinging movement, the bars carrying a pivot pin 85. This pin 85 has pivoted thereto a connecting member 86 which extends in a reverse direction through an opening in a split lug 87. The lug 87 is a split lug upstanding from the yoke 80. The split lug is clamped around the member 86 by means of a suitable clamping bolt. Thus, axial movement of the rod 81 will serve to swing the yoke 80 about the pivots 79 and binding will be prevented by pivoting at the axes of the pins 8 3 and 85 which will permit necessary vertical swinging of the member 86.

Carried within the arms of the yoke 80- and substantially in the plane of the yoke is a yoke block 88. This block is of elongated form and has its opposite ends pivoted within the arms of the yoke by means of outwardly extending aligning pivot pins 89 fitting into sockets in the yoke arms. It will be noted that the axis of the aligning pivot pins 89 is above the axis of the aligning pivot pins 79. Each of the outer faces of the block 88 carries shoes 90 of antifriction material which is like the material of the brake shoe 63 and the clutch shoe 75. Each of these shoes will contact at the proper instant with the adjacent faces of the respective brake disc 60 and clutch disc 65. Furthermore, because of the displacementof the pivots 79 and 89, this will be a firm fiat contact regardless of wearing of friction materials. To produce movement of the yoke to cause selective engagement with the discs 60 and 65, the ram unit is controlled by suitable controls connected to the cylinder by the conduits 91.

A detailed illustration of one of the ram units is illustrated in FIGURE 5 where it will be noted that a spring arrangement is provided which tends to always return the piston 95 thereof to neutral position. The rod 81 extends from opposite sides of the piston and the one end, to which the pin 83 is connected, extends through the adjacent end of the cylinder 82, a packing gland 96 being provided at this end. The opposite end of the piston rod 8 1 is provided with a reduced extension 97 to receive a compression spring 98 which bears against a collar 99 at its outer end and a collar 100 at its inner end. The rod extension 97 is disposed within the cylinder extension sleeve 101 which has a stop sleeve 102 in a fixed position adjacent its outer end and the spring 98 normally seats the collar 99 on the inner end of this stop sleeve. The spring normally seats the other collar 100 on an annular inner stop shoulder 103 at the inner end of the cylinder extension sleeve 101. The piston rod extension 97 slidably extends through both collars 99 and 100 and on its extreme outer end carries a fixed collar 104 for engaging the outer surface of the collar 99. Axially inwardly of the fixed collar 104, the rod extension is provided with a fixed annular shoulder 105.

Normally the compression spring 98 holds the piston 95 in a central neutral position. However, when pressure is supplied into one end of the cylinder 82, say the left end, the piston 95 is moved to the right by this pressure and the rod-carried collar 104 will pull on the collar 99, moving it away from the stop sleeve 102 and compressing the spring 98 against the collar 100. However, as soon as the pressure is relieved, the spring will move the collar 99 into engagement with the sleeve 102 and the piston 95 is then in neutral position. Conversely, if pressure is applied in the right-hand end of the cylinder 82, the piston is moved to the left, causing the fixed shoulder 105 to engage the collar 100, moving it to the left away from the shoulder 103 and compressing the spring 98 against the collar 99. However, as soon as the pressure is relieved, the spring '98 will move the collar 100 back against-the shoulder 103 and the piston 95 is then in neutral position.

With reference to FIGURE 5, it will be apparent from the above that when the yoke is swung outwardly by outward movement of the rod 8 1 from its neutral position, the outer shoe will engage the inner face of the brake disc 60 and will move it into contact with the brake shoe 63 and a braking action will be exerted on the drum 44. At this time, the clutch disc 65 will be free of any retarding or braking force. If the piston rod 81 is now moved inwardly away from its neutral position to swing the yoke 80 into the broken line position shown in FIGURE 5, the outer shoe 90 will move away from the brake disc 63 and the inner shoe 90 will move into contact with the adjacent face of the clutch disc 65. This will retard or stop the clutch disc.

It will be noted that the discs 60 and 65 are of large diameter and extend downwardly well into the lower portion of the case 41. As indicated in FIGURES 3 and 4, the lower portion of the case will contain oil in which the discs will rotate and this oil will exert a cooling effect on the discs themselves, as well as all the friction material forming the shoes 63, 75 and 90. This friction material will absorb the oil as previously indicated.

The operation of this winch unit is illustrated diagrammatically in FIGURES 8 to I l. The hydraulic controls for the double-acting rams 78 and 78a are of the usual type and will selectively and independently move the pistons relative to the cylinders thereof as desired. Each yoke may be moved into a position where it engages the clutch disc, where it engages the brake disc, or a neutral position where it releases both discs. Furthenmore, the spring arrangement 98 will permit movement away from neutral position but will tend to return it to neutral and thereby aid the operator in selecting neutral position.

With the conditions illustrated in FIGURE 8, the inhaul drum 44 is stopped and the outhaul drum 45 is driven. This is bacause the brake disc 60 is engaged and stopped and the clutch disc 65 is released by control of the ram 78. The brake disc 60a is released and the clutch disc 65a is engaged and stopped by operation of the ram 78a. This will cause the spool or drum 45 to be driven to wind up the outhaul cable and exert an out- Ward pull on the backfiller board 34. This is due to the fact that since the clutch disc 65a is stopped, the pinions 67a revolve around the sun gear 76a within the gear 66a and, therefore, continue to drive the spool or drum 45 and the brake disc 60a which are connected together as a unit by the pins 68a, the rotation being in the same direction as that of the driving shaft 43. At the same time, the spool or drum 44 is stopped to take up slack in the inhaul line 32 between the drum and the board 34. This is due to the fact that since the brake disc 60 is stopped it applies a. braking force on the drum 44 which is connected thereto by the pins 68 as a unit. At this time, the clutch disc 65 is driven by the planetary gear mechanism in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the shaft 43, since the sun gear 76 is rotated and this drives the pinions 67 about their pins 68 and causes the gear 66 and the supported disc 65 to revolve in a direction opposite to that of the rotation of the shaft 43. Thus, there will be a pull on the outhaul' line 33' and the slack in the inhaul line 32 between the drum 44 and backfiller board 34 will be taken up.

In FIGURE 9, the conditions are illustrated for obtaing a pull on the outhaul line 33 by driving the drum 45 and release of the inhaul line 32 by allowing free-.

wheeling of the drum 44, to move the board 34 outwardly. In this instance, the ram 78a is maintained in the same position as in FIGURE 8 to stop the clutch disc 65a and to drive the drum 45 and brake disc 60a in the same direction as the shaft 43, thereby exerting a pull on the outhaul line. 33. However, the ram 78 is controlled so that both brake disc 60 and clutch disc 65 are released. Therefore, in this instance, disc 65 will be driven in a direction reverse to rotation of the shaft 43, and since the disc 60 is released, it will be driven simultaneously in the same direction, the drum 44 also rotating in the same direction with these discs and the outward pull on the line 32 aiding in this freewheeling action of the drum 44. Therefore, the board 34 moves outwardly.

With the rams 78 and 78a in the condition illustrated in FIGURE 10, the outhaul drum 45 is being braked and the inhaul drum 44 is driving to pull in on the line 32 to pull in the board 34 after it has been moved outwardly as far as desired. The braking action on the drum 45 is accomplished since the brake disc 60a is en gaged and this exerts a direct braking effect on the drum 45 since it is-connected directly thereto through the pins 68a. The rotating shaft 43 drives the associated clutch disc 65a in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the shaft by the planetary gearing. The ram 78 causes the clutch disc 65 to be engaged and stopped and the brake disc 60 to be free. Therefore, there is no braking force on the drum 44. The shaft 43, through the planetary gearing now causes the drum 44 to be driven in the same direction as the shaft and the brake disc 60 rotates therewith. Consequently, under these conditions, the line 32 is pulled in and slack-is taken up in the outhaul line 33.

With reference to FIGURE 11, with the ram 7 8 in the same position as in FIGURE 10 and theram 78a in a dilferent position as shown, the board 34 is being pulled inwardly. This is because the outhaul drum 45- is freewheel in a direction of rotation opposite to that ofthe shaft 43 since there is no braking action on the drum by the disc 60a and no clutching action by the clutch disc 65a, both of them being free. However, the clutch disc 65 is in the same condition as in FIGURE 10, and since it is stopped, the shaft 43 serves to drive the drum 44 in the same direction it is rotating, to exert a pull on the inhaul line. Since the disc 60 is free, there is no braking effect on the inhaul drum 44. Therefore, the board 34 will be pulled inwai-dly. Some brake force may be applied to the disc 60a so as to exert some pull on the outhaul line 33 to hold the backfiller board 34 up when pulling on the inhaul line 32 to prevent digging into the surface below the spoil material.

It will be apparent that with this clutch and brake mechanism for each drum, the mechanism may be actuated to exert a braking action on the drum to stop it, to permit freewheeling of the drum in a line unwinding direction, or to drive the drum in a line winding direction. To brake the drum, the brake disc is engaged and the clutch disc is disengaged; to permit freewheeling of the drum both discs are disengaged; and to drive the drum,

the brake disc is released and the clutch disc is engaged.

Engaging the clutch disc causes the planetary gear unit;

thereof to drive the drum from the shaft in the same direction as the shaft, whereas disengaging it permits braking by the brake disc' on the drum if the brake disc is engaged or free-Wheeling of the drum in a reverse direction if the brake disc is not engaged. By proper manipulation of the control rams away from normal neutral position, any desired movement of the backfiller board, both as to direction and extent, may be produced.

It will be apparent that this invention provides a winch unit which is particularly suitable for use on a baclcfiller to. provide the desired movements of the backfiller board. The winch unit is such that it can be ideally positioned on the tractor to permit proper manipulation by the operator with substantially no interference with the operator.

8 The unit is of such a nature that continual manipulation of the controls to operate the inhaul line drum and the outhaul line drum will not produceexcessive heat or excessive wear and deterioration of parts.

Various other advantages will be apparent. Having thus described this invention, what is claimed 1s:

1. A Winch unit comprising a shaft continuously driven in one direction, a drum mounted on said shaft for relative rotation, a brake disc and a clutch disc mounted on said shaft adjacent said drum with the clutch disc disposed between said drum and said brake disc, means for selectively engaging the brake disc or the clutch disc or for releasing both discs, said brake disc being carried on the shaft for relative rotation, said clutch disc being carriedon the shaft for relative rotation by means of planetary gearing, said planetary gearing comprising a sun gear fixed to the shaft, a surrounding internal gear carrying the clutch disc, and planetary pinions between the two gears, said planetary pinions being carried by pins which extend therefrom in opposite directions and mechanically connect the brake disc to the cooperating drum as a unit.

2. A winch unit comprising a-shaft continuously driven in one direction, a pair of axially spaced drums mounted on said shaft for relative rotation with regard to each other and the shaft, a brake disc and a clutch disc for each drum and mounted on said shaft adjacent the cooperating drum with the clutch disc disposed between said drum and said brake disc, control means for selectively engaging the brake disc or the clutch disc or for releasing both discs, said brake disc being carried on the shaft for relative rotation, said clutch disc being carried on the shaft for relative rotation by means of planetary gearing, said planetary gearing comprising a sun gear fixed to the shaft, a surrounding internal gear carrying the clutch disc, and planetary pinions-between the two gears, said (planetary pinions being carried by pins which extend therefrom in opposite directions and mechanically c0nnect the brake disc to the cooperating drum as a unit.

3. A Winch unit according to claim 2 in which said control means comprises an engaging shoe member disposed between said brake and clutch disc and having opposed shoes for selectively engaging the discs, and yield able means normally holding said shoe member in disc non-engaging position.

4. A winch unit comprising a housing adapted to have a supply of oil therein, a drum shaft extending within the housing, means for continuously driving the shaft in one direction, a pair of cable reeving drums mounted con centrically on said shaft outside the housing for relative rotation with regard to each other and to the shaft, a brake disc and a clutch disc for each drum mounted on said shaft adjacent the cooperating drum but being within said housing with the clutch disc disposed between said drum and said brake disc, and a shoe member disposed Within said housing between the clutch disc and the brake disc for selectively engaging each of the discs or releasing both discs, said brake disc being carried on the shaft for relative rotation by means of a planetary gearing type freewheeling clutch unit, and a mechanical connection between said brake disc and said drum through said freewheeling clutch unit and comprising pins which are connected to the brake disc and the drum and which carry planetary gears of the planetary gearing.

5. A winch unit comprising a housing adapted to have a supply of oil therein and comprising two lateral sections with a central space therebetween, a drum shaft extending through said sections and said space, means for continuously driving the shaft in one direction, a pair of cable-reeving drums disposed in said central space mounted concentrically on said shaft for relative rotation with regard to each other and to the shaft, clutch and brake mechanism for each drum and comprising a brake disc and a clutch disc for each drum mounted on said shaft in the housing section adjacent the cooperating drum with the clutch disc disposed between said drum and said brake disc, a movable shoe disposed in that housing section between the two discs for selective engagement with either of the discs, said brake disc being carried on the shaft for relative rotation, said clutch disc being carried on the shaft for relative rotation by means of planetary gearing, said planetary gearing comprising a sun gear fixed to the shaft, a surrounding internal gear carrying the clutch disc, and planetary pinions between the two gears, said planetary pinions being carried by pins which extend in opposite directions therefrom parallel to the axis of the shaft and connect members fixed to the respective brake disc within the housing section and drum in said central space.

6. A winch unit comprising a housing comprising upright lateral sections each of which is adapted to have a supply of oil therein, said sections being so disposed that a central space is provided therebetween, a drum shaft extending horizontally through said sections and said space, means for continuously driving the shaft in one direction, a pair .of cable-reeving drums disposed in said central space mounted concentrically on said shaft for relative rotation with regard to each other and to the shaft, clutch and brake mechanism for each drum and comprising a brake disc and a clutch disc for each drum mounted on said shaft in the housing section adjacent the cooperating drum with the clutch disc disposed between said drum and said brake disc, each of said discs being relatively large and being carried by the shaft for axial movement thereon, said brake disc being carried on the shaft for relative rotation, said clutch disc being carried on the shaft for relative rotation by means of planetary gearing comprising a sun gear fixed to the shaft, a surrounding internal gear carrying the clutch disc, planetary pinions between the two gears, said planetary pinions being carried by pins which extend in opposite directions thenefrom parallel to the axis of the shaft and connect members fixed to the respective brake disc within the housing section and drum in said central space, a shoe fixed within the housing section for engaging the brake disc and another shoe fixed within the housing section for engaging the clutch disc, and a shoe member disposed in that housing section between the two discs, and movable for selectively engaging and moving either the brake disc or the clutch disc axially of the shaft into engagement with its cooperating fixed shoe.

7. A winch unit according to claim 6 in which the movable shoe is pivotally carried by a yoke and is pro vided with shoes on its opposite surfaces toward the discs for flat engagement with the adjacent faces thereof.

8. A winch unit according to claim 7 comprising a ram unit for moving said yoke, and spring means incorporated in said ram normally keeping it in a neutral position Where the yoke is in such a position that its shoes do not engage the discs.

9. A unit according to claim 7 in which the shoes all carry friction contact material which is oil absorbent.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,094,131 McLean Sept. 28, 1937 2,199,668 Lawler May 7, 1940 2,391,580 Mackmann et al Dec. 25, 1945 2,427,471 Osgood Sept. 16, 1947 

1. A WINCH UNIT COMPRISING A SHAFT CONTINUOUSLY DRIVEN IN ONE DIRECTION, A DRUM MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT FOR RELATIVE ROTATION, A BRAKE DISC AND A CLUTCH DISC MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT ADJACENT SAID DRUM WITH THE CLUTCH DISC DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID DRUM AND SAID BRAKE DISC, MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY ENGAGING THE BRAKE DISC OR THE CLUTCH DISC OR FOR RELEASING BOTH DISCS, SAID BRAKE DISC BEING CARRIED ON THE SHAFT FOR RELATIVE ROTATION, SAID CLUTCH DISC BEING CARRIED ON THE SHAFT FOR RELATIVE ROTATION BY MEANS OF PLANETARY GEARING, SAID PLANETARY GEARING COMPRISING A SUN GEAR FIXED TO THE SHAFT, A SURROUNDING INTERNAL GEAR CARRYING THE CLUTCH DISC, AND PLANETARY PINIONS BETWEEN THE TWO GEARS, SAID PLANETARY PINIONS BEING CARRIED BY PINS WHICH EXTEND THEREFROM IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS AND MECHANICALLY CONNECT THE BRAKE DISC TO THE COOPERATING DRUM AS A UNIT. 